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School Tax Increase Possible for MASD Residents
By Richard Finch Jr.
The Tube City Almanac
May 28, 2019
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District residents face a possible increase in property taxes next year.
At last week's meeting, the school board approved a preliminary 2019-20 budget of $69.1 million.
The millage rate is currently 19.48 and would increase 0.68 mills to 20.16. A property assessed at $50,000 would see its taxes increase by about $34 per year.
In other business, school directors congratulated Colin Lyons for coming in second place in the discus throwing competition category at the WPIAL AAA Championships on May 16. Lyons threw for 146-feet-5-inches, School Director Ivan Hampton reported on behalf of the athletic committee.
Board President Joe Lopretto announced $22,000 was raised on May 5 by Coats for Kids, bringing the total over three years to $50,000.
“We're going to put coats on kids at Twin Rivers and Francis McClure and buy some safety equipment and bullet proof vests for the McKeesport police department,” he said.
The district's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) held a graduation ceremony on May 11, Lopretto said.
State Sen. Jim Brewster deserves credit, Lopretto said, for “coming through with extra money to help us keep the program going for the next five or six years.”
The board voted to hire Mark DeCarlo, Jesse Bush, Nick Filotei and Sarah Persin to work between 27-60 hours at an hourly rate of $25.84 for the summer music program.
The board voted to hire Ray Zellars, Jordan Grayson, Connor Pavlecic and Casey Carriero as summer laborers in the maintenance department effective immediately at an hourly rate of $7.25, pending receipt of medical, background and drug testing clearances.
The board voted to hire Melissa Phelps and Dean Holtzman at an hourly rate of $25.84 under summer testing services in the special education department for the completion of psychological evaluations for referred students, not to exceed 200 hours.
The board approved agreements between the school district and PA-Educator.net; and with Pediatric Services of America, Inc.; and named MGI Risk Management, Inc., as the district's broker of record for all insurance coverages excluding medical benefits.
Richard Finch Jr. is a freelance writer who covers news from McKeesport Area School District and North Versailles Twp. for Tube City Almanac. He may be reached at finchr43@gmail.com.
Originally published May 28, 2019.
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